Strap clamp-device



July 28, 1959 J. R. HUVBER STRAP CLAMP-DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 195 1ATTORNEY llnite States Patent fiice 2,896,295 Patented July 28, 1959STRAP CLAMP-DEVICE John Richard Huber, Warrington, Pa, assignor toEastern Rotorcraft Corporation, Doylestown, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 449,830

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-273) This invention relates to improvements in strapadjustment and securing devices.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a strapassembly with an adjusting and securing device which is simplified notonly in construction but in operation.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a simple frameterminal device having a strap anchoring bar and a second adjustablysupported bar so related as to provide a secure positioning anchor forthe strap witha simple swinging action of the frame through an angle notgreater than 180 degrees and with minimum strap Wrap around.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a frame,terminal device having an offset and arranged to allow easy adjustmentto a position where the frame is retained in proper locked location.This offset frame construction includes provision for mounting aretention device for holding the frame in position adjacent thetensioned strap.

How the above objects and advantages are obtained will be clear from thefollowing description of the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a viewshowing one application of a strap assembly according to the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a view showing another application for a somewhat differentstrap assembly.

Figure 3 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of the strapsecuring fitting or frame.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the strap assembly in the firststage of the securing operation.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the strap and framein different relative positions with the frame in partly closedposition.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5 drawn to an enlarged scalewith the frame moved to closed position with the strap tightened andsecured.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the assembly with the frame in closedposition as in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modified type of frame.

One manner in which the strap assembly may be used is to completelyencircle miscellaneous articles as illustrated in Figure 1. With thisarrangement one end of the strap 10 is anchored to the frame unit 11.The other end of'strap, after it has passed around the article orarticles, is attached to the frame in the manner to be described below.The frame device is secured to retain the strap tightly in holdingposition.

A somewhat different arrangement of the device provides for tying downarticles in the fashion illustrated in Figure 2. Such an arrangementmight be used in connection with a car top platform, a truck, or thebaggage compartment of an aircraft. In this instance, the articles to besecured are placed upon the base 12. Strap 10 is provided with asecuring hook 13 which may be attached to a ring 14 in the base 12. Theother end of strap 10 is permanently anchored to the tightening device11. An-

produce non-slipping .actionat the bar 22 is greatly slightly throughthe slot between the bars.

2 other strap 10a which includes a terminal hook 13 is then connected tothe tightening unit 11 in the same fashion as in the case of thearrangement in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 3 to 7 inclusive, it will be seen that the strapanchoring device 11 is constructed in the form of a frame having siderod portions 15 and end rod portion 16 constructed of a singlecontinuous metal rod. The end 16 of the frame is located in a planeoffset from the plane of sides 15 by bending the side frame members inthe manner illustrated to produce connecting posts 17 between the end 16and the side frame members 15. The free ends of the side frame members15 are flattened at 18 to provide for support of the strap connectingbars. Thus, a round bar 19 is supported between the ends 18 by means oftrunnions 20 which extend through apertures 21 in the flattened portions18. The ends of trunnions 20 are riveted in position to securely fastenframe members 15 in fixed relationship. A second bar 22 is preferablyshaped to provide a beam with greater depth than Width. This shape willbe clearly observed in Figures 4 to 6. The ends of beam 22 are providedwith reduced extensions 23 which are also deeper than their width. Aslotted aperture 24 in each of the flatted ends 18 provides for thesupport of bar 22 with extensions 23 projecting therein. Slot 24 isproportioned to fit the width of extension 23 but provides ampleclearance for longitudinal movement of bar 22. The elongated shape ofextension 23 prevents relative rotation of bar 22 with respect to theframe structure. Bar 22 is also provided with rounded edges in order toprevent damaging the strap as it passes over it or when clampingpressure is applied.

From Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 the strap assembly and the mode of operationwill be clear. Here it will be seen that the strap 10 is passed aroundthe bar 19 and stitched or otherwise fastened in position in a permanentfashion. With frame members 15 in the position shown in Figure 4, thatis, with the main portion of the unit extending over the anchored end ofthe strap 10, the opposite end of the strap 10a is then passed under thebar 22 and through the space between bars 22 and 19. With extensions 23of the bar 22 at the outer end of slot 24, the space is ample tocomfortably pass the strap between bars 19 and 22. The end of strap 10bis then pulled through the unit until all slack has been removed fromthe strap. Holding the terminal end of the strap 10b in position againstthe tensioned or load carrying part of the strap 10a the unit 11 is thenswung over through the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shownin Figure 6 where the main portion of the unit 11 lies over the adjustedend 10a of the strap. As will be clear the action of swinging the unitfrom the position in Figure 4 to the position in Figure 6 causes afurther tightening in the strap due to the toggle or eccentric actionproduced by the relative motion of bars 19 and 22. If too great atension is being developed during this motion, the end of strap 10b maybe released momentarily to permit the end 10a to slip back This willallow the completion of the movement of the unit 11 into position whilemaintaining the desired tension in the strap.

Reference to Figures 6 and 7 will show that the strap in adjusted andlocked position moves bar 22 inwardly in its slot to a point wherepressure is applied on the portion of the strap 10b where it passesaround bar 22. This. position also produces displacement of the strap 10near the point where it passes around the bar 19 so that the two strapsare forced intimately together at this location between bars 19 and 22.In View of the fact that most of thepressure is applied to the strap 10aafter it has passed around the bar 22, the pressure required to reducedover what would be required if direct clamping action were applied at apoint with full tension of strap a. By this construction positiveholding qualities are developed in the device without damage to thestrap and with a minimum amount of wrap around of the strap parts. Itwill be noted that each end 10 and'lila of the strap assembly wrapsaround its bar only approximately 180 degrees with an additional slightoffset displacement caused by the swinging of bar parts 19 and 22 intoline. This construction therefore eliminates a bulky strap wrap in theunit. It will be noted that in the position shown in Figures 6 and 7guide terminals 23 of beam 22 still have clearance in slot 24 so thatfull tension in the strap 10a is available for applying pressure betweenthe strap parts where they pass through the slot between bar 19 and bar22. In this position and with the tension applied, the space between thetwo bars is less than two thicknesses of strap since under load thestrap is compressed to some extent.

In order to hold unit 11 in it adjusted position, the tension portion ofstrap 10a is raised slightly so that the strap passes between rodportions 17. In this position the retention device 25 may be rotated sothat rod 26 passes under strap 10a, thus preventing unit 11 fromswinging away from the end 10a toward open position. In this fashion theunit is held in securely tensioned position until the strap is releasedby swinging rod 26 out of position to permit unit 1 1 to be rotated backinto the position shown in Figure 4 for release of the strap. It will benoted that the retention device 25 is in the form of a coiled wiremember which extends around one of the upright post members 17. One endof device 25 is formed into a loop 27 which serves as a handle forpivoting the unit around on rod 17 while the other end of part 25extends to form the retention rod 26. It will be noted that rod 26 has aslight curved portion 28 at its end so that it springs over rod when inthe position shown in Figure 6 thereby preventing accidentaldisplacement from the locked position. The spring action in the rod 26is further supplemented by the tension in strap 10a to securely holdunit 11 in locked position.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of the frame device in which the siderods 15a are not offset but are provided with a slight projection 29.Slide 30 which may be moved along strap 10 into the position shownserves to hold the unit 11a in tightened position as illustrated. Themain difference in the construction of unit 11a as compared with unit 11of the form shown in the previous figures is in the relationship of thestrap bars. The positions of the fixed and movable bars are reversed.T-hus fixedbar 19a'is located at the outer end of rods 15a while movablebar 22:: is located inwardly. With this arrangement the fixed or sewnend of strap 10 is anchored to the outer bar 19a. The tensioned side ofthe strap is shown at 10a and the unloaded or unused portion of thestrap at 10b. With this arrangement of parts the frame unit 11a swingsover the fixed end of strap 10 when in tightened position to permit theslide 30 to be moved into position. The same advantageous tightening andholding action is obtained with this form. The tension in strap 10apulls the movable bar 22a toward the strap clamping position andprovides adequate holding capacity without damage to the strap and witha minimum amount of wrap around of the strap with respect to the crossbars.

From the foregoing it will be clear that I have provided an improved andsimplified strap tightening and holding mechanism. The simplified frameconsists chiefly of a single rod bent to proper shape with its endsflattened. The strap bar construction with the floating beam.

member assures positive holding characteristics with a minimum amount ofstrap distortion. Shaping the rod type frame with the end offset andsupported in this position by perpendicular portions of the rod providesfor simple mounting for-the fitting retention device W ich 4. can bequickly placed in position on the strap without the need for twisting itfrom its straight line pulling position. The locking device is formedfrom a single length of wire which is pivotally mounted on the rod framewithout the need for additional structural parts.

I claim:

1. An adjustable strap assembly having a strap member and a securingframe, two sides and one end of the frame being formed from acontinuous-length of rod, the other end of the frame having apair oftransverse bars supported between the sides, one end of said strapmember being looped around the inner of said bars and anchored thereto,the side rod portions of said frame being bent near the end thereof tolocate the rod end in offset relation from butparallel to the plane ofthe side rods, sa id bent parts of the side frame being substantiallynormal to the longitudinal side rods, and a retention latch formed fromWire having a portion helically wrapped around one of thebent parts ofthe side frame to form a pivoting member, a portion of the wire beingbent to form a'loop'handle and another portion extending tangentiallyfrom the helical portion, said last portion being swingable intoposition across the sides of the frame to hold-the frame in adjustedposition on the strap.

2. An adjustable strap assembly having a strap member and a securingframe, two sides and one end of the frame being formed with a continuouslength of rod, the other end of the frame having a pair of transversebars supported between the sides, one end of said strap member beinglooped around the inner of said bars and anchored'thereto, the side rodportions of said'frame being bent near the end thereof to locate the rodend in offset relation from but parallel to the plane of the side rods,and a pair of transverse bars supported between said sides in closeproximity to each other, one of said bars'being movably supported toallow slight motion toward or away from the other bar, the bent parts ofthe side frame being substantially normal to the I integral handle, saidfitting having a pair of slotted side frame members, two cross barsconsisting of an inner and an outer bar mounted at one end of said framemembers, one end of the strap being secured to the inner of said crossbars, one of the cross bars being rigidly supported, and the other barbeing movably supported insaid slots for motion toward and away from thefixed cross bar, the strap assembly having an open position with thebars separated and the strap freely adjustable, the strap member beingadapted to be passed beneath, around and over the outer bar so that aterminal end of the strap member overlies a load carrying portionthereof, whereby when the assembly is rotated through an angle ofapproximately degrees the movable bar moves toward the rigidly attachedbar and simultaneously shortens the strap and clamps two strapthicknesses therebetween.

4. A strap assembly in accordance with claim 3 in which the inner ofsaid bars is rigidly supported.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS179,872 Seymour July 18, 1876 270,922 Aldrich Jan. 23, 1883 387,086 LumJuly 31, 1888 533,547 -Moore Feb. 5, 1895 702,322 McCord June 10, 1902872,969 Patterson Dec. 3, 1907 2,679,670 Griswold June 1, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 2,169 Great Britain 1878

